According to Marcelo Guzman, in charge of the district of the Rio Limpio community in Elias Piña, around 55 rivers and streams have dried up in the Central Mountain area as they pass through the communities in what is called the “Loma de Maco” between Elias Piña province and the province of Dajabon. Deforestation is believed to be the major factor that has resulted in many of region’s waterways drying up.
Guzman said that the Artibonito, del Valle, Neita and Masacre rivers have all disappeared in the area with people ignoring and violating the environmental laws that seek to protect waterways. Guzman complained that no one seems to care enough about this environmental crisis.
Guzmán said that the area was the source for more than 100 rivers and now fully half of these rivers and streams have vanished due to deforestation. He blamed Haitians who live in the area for much of the deforestation. Guzman also claimed that government authorities have not to protect the natural resources of the region.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
18 April 2017
